Removable, hanging awning for indoor and low wind outdoor use

ABSTRACT

The invention is a readily erectable and removable awning or window shade, for interior or low wind outdoor use. The structure relies for support only on detachable attachments on the top of the main panel and friction at the interface between the supporting structure and the bottom frame ends of the awning or shade.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to window shades and awnings.

2. Description of Prior Art

Awnings for interior and exterior use are well known to the art. Theyusually consist of a fabric main panel which is draped from a topmember, usually a rod or bar, which is connected to the wall or windowframe. The bottom of the draped main panel is held away from thesupporting structure with a “U” shaped frame, which is attached to thesupporting structure at its two frame ends, and the frame isapproximately parallel with the ground, at all points. The points ofattachment at the frame ends may be hinged to allow the awning to beswung upward for storage. The awnings may have side panels, which areusually integral to the main front panel. The “U” shaped frame mayconsist of several connected parts or be integral to the front and/orside panels, where those panels are ridged. While the attachment of theframe ends to the supporting structure, usually a wall or window frame,makes the awning suitable for windy conditions it prevents the easyremoval and erection of the awning. It also introduces unnecessaryhardware and on removal results in unsightly hardware or damage to thesupporting structure.

Prior art awnings are attached to the supporting structure at the endsof the “U” shaped frame, and/or along the interface between the sidepanels and the supporting structure, which makes them difficult and timeconsuming to remove.

Prior art awnings do not have means of removing the awning withoutleaving unsightly hardware attached to the supporting structure, orholes where the hardware has been removed.

What is needed is an awning design which renders unnecessary the saidattachment between the ends of the “U” shaped frame and the supportingstructure.

What is needed is a method of easy and quick erection and removal of theawing or window shade.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The preferred embodiment of the invention is an awning or sun shadewhich has no attachment between the frame ends 4 b of the “U” shapedframe 4 or along the interface between the side panels 2 a and thesupporting structure 3 a. The shape and fixed position of the awning orshade is maintained solely by the detachable attachments at the top ofthe main panel 2 and the moment of force 7, exerted by gravity, havingits centre of motion along a line at the top of the main panel 2coincident with the line of attachment of the awning 1 to the supportingstructure 3 a. Such moment of force 7, acting in the direction of thesaid supporting structure plane 3 a, and thus holding the said awning 1snuggly against the said supporting structure 3 a.

Another embodiment of the invention is the frameless or rod-less meansof attaching the top of the main panel 2 to the supporting structure 3a, such that the awning can be quickly erected and removed. Somepreferred embodiments of the invention have a simple adhesive strip 6attached to the top of the main panel 2. This adhesive can be designed,by means well known to the art, for example, similar to that used in 3MCorp.'s “Post-its™, so that the bond will hold the awning 1 in place,but which can be detached without damage to the exterior surface of thesupporting structure 3 a.

Other embodiments of the invention, having no top frame or rod, usecomplementary strips of loop and hook material, such as Velcro™ todetachably attach the top of the main panel 2 to the supportingstructure 3 a. FIG. 2 illustrates strip 6 a, which can be adhesive tapebacked and which maintains adhesion to the supporting structure 3 a. Thefront surface is populated with either hooks or loops and whichdetachably attaches to the complementary loops or hooks of strip 6 b,which is in turn attached to the main panel 2 of the awning 1. Thispermits the awning to be quickly removed for cleaning or be replacedwith another awning of another color or opacity, as desired. Theadhesive on the strip 6 a can also be peelable at low energies, buthigher than that between the said hook and loop bond, such that thestrip itself can be removed without damaging the surface of thesupporting structure 3 a. These strips 6, 6 a and 6 b are of varyingstiffness as in some embodiments stiffer strips are used to establish astraight top panel edge and in those embodiments which include sidepanels, a straight side panel edge. In other embodiments more flexiblestrips 6, 6 a, 6 b, are used to facilitate cleaning and storage.

The preferred embodiment of the invention includes a ‘U” shaped frame 4,which is threaded through a folded over and then stitched end of themain panel 2, which forms an open ended sleeve 5. Some embodiments ofthe invention have rigid main panels 4 and in these cases the “U” shapedframe will be integral to the main panel 4 and hence the awning 1.

Some embodiments of the invention have side panels 2 a, such asillustrated in FIG. 1, while others do not as illustrated in FIG. 3.Other embodiments of the invention have side strips 2 b which grasp andprevent the frame ends 4 b from slipping down the supporting structure 3a.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hanging awning 1, shading window 3,which is detachably attached to the supporting structure by only anadhesive strip 6.

FIG. 2 is a perspective, view of a hanging awning 1 which is detachablyattached to the supporting structure 3 a by means of complementarystrips of loop and hook material, one 6 a adhering to the supportingstructure 3 a and the other 6 b being attached to the top of the mainpanel 2. The two strips 6 a, 6 b interlocking, when pressed together.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the awning 1 without side panels 2 a.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment which has no sidepanels 2 a, but supports the “U” shaped frame 4 a ends by means of ahanging strip 2 b.

FIG. 4 a is a detail of FIG. 4 illustrating the fold or cup 2 c formedin the hanging strip 2 b and which supports the frame end 4 a of the “U”shaped frame 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a hanging awning 1 which is detachably attached tothe supporting structure 3 a by means of an adhesive strip 6. Saidawning 1 is shading window 3. In this embodiment of the invention thesaid adhesive strip is bonded to a top fold or end of the main panel 2.A “U” shaped frame 4 is treaded through a fold 5 in the main panel 2 andthe side panels 2 a. While the preferred embodiment has a “U” shapedframe 4, it is to be understood that any suitable shape may be used andall such shapes are within the ambit of the invention. Similarly, theframe 4 may be connected to the awning 1 by all suitable means known tothe art, such as loops, hook and loops connectors, snap connectors etc.In some embodiments of the invention the frame 4 may be flexible orspringy, allowing the operator to bend the said frame 4, for example,temporarily straightening it and allowing for easier threading andunthreading of the frame 4 into and out of the sleeve 5. Similarly, theframe 4 may be an integral part of the main panel 2 and/or side panel 2a, such as when one or more of those panels are rigid. It is to beunderstood that for the purposes of this disclosure that the frame 4 canbe any shape retaining element or member or a part of any other element,which holds the main panel 4 off the surface of the supporting structure3 a and gives the awning 1 its form, and all such embodiments are withinthe ambit of the invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates approximately the moment of force 7, which acts byforce of gravity, to pin the ends 4 a of the frame 4 to the surface ofsupporting structure 3 a and renders unnecessary any attachment betweenthe two interfacing surfaces. The pivot points of the notional arm 7 cthat translates to the moment of force is the line of points between 7 aand Tai, which is approximately the line along which the main panel 2 isdetachably attached to the supporting structure 3 a. This reliance onthe pinning action of gravity, acting on the ends 4 a of the frame 4,allows for easier erection and removal of the said awning. Also whenremoved, there is no remaining hardware or unsightly holes.

FIG. 2 also illustrates another embodiment of the invention whichdetachably attaches the awning 1 to the supporting structure by means ofcomplementary strips of loop and hook material, one 6 a adhering to thesupporting structure 3 a and the other 6 b being attached to the top ofthe main panel 2. The two strips, when their complementary hooks andloops interlock, are all that is required to hold the awning in place.The strength of the adhesive on the back of strip 6 a can of course varydepending upon the weight of the awning 1. For very light awnings, theadhesive bond can be sufficiently week, such as is used in 3M Corp.'sPost-its™, that it can be peeled off the supporting structure 3 a,without doing any damage to the surface of the said supporting structure3 a. While FIG. 2 illustrates two continuous hook and loop strips, it isto be understood that several smaller strips might be used, and bewithin the ambit of the invention. Also it should be noted that otherpreferred embodiments of the invention may utilize other means ofdetachably attaching the top of the main panel 4 to the supportingstructure 3 a, which are all well known to the art and all of which arewithin the ambit of the invention.

FIG. 2 also illustrates the frame 4 a, for diagrammatical clarity,outside the sleeve 5. Frame 4 a and 4 being one and the same.

FIG. 3 illustrated an embodiment of the invention which has no sidepanels 2 a, but relies on the friction between the frame ends 4 a, andthe supporting structure 3 a to pin and hold the frame 4 in place. Theforce 7, described above, provides the pinning force.

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of the invention which has no sidepanels 2 a, but supports the “U” shaped frame ends 4 a by means of ahanging strip 2 b. The frame ends 4 a may nestle in a fold 2 c formed inthe hanging strip 2 b, or any other supporting means well known to theart, and all of which are within the ambit of the invention. The hangingstrip 2 b is attached to the top of the main panel 2.

Many examples of the invention have been disclosed herein, however it isto be understood that the examples and illustrations have included manyfeatures which can be applied to each example given, in variouscombinations, and all are within the ambit of the invention.

While the present invention has been described in conjunction withpreferred embodiments, it is to be understood that modifications andvariations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as those skilled in the art will readilyunderstand. Such modifications and variations are considered to bewithin the purview and scope of the inventions and appended claims.

1. An awning, which is attached or detachably attached to a wall orsupporting structure, continuously or intermittently, solely along theinterface between the top most edge of the said awning and the saidsupporting structure, with an integral or separate rigid element, suchas a “U” shaped frame, attached to the bottom of the covering awningmaterial, and said element lying in an approximately horizontal plane,the ends of which rest against the said supporting structure.
 2. Thesaid claim 1, in which the said attachment or detachable attachment tothe said supporting structure is comprised of a permanent or releasableadhesive strip(s), affixed along the top most edge of the said awning,which secures the interface between the said top most edge of the saidawning and the said supporting structure to which it adheres.
 3. Thesaid claim 1, in which the said attachment or detachable attachment tothe said supporting structure is comprised of a permanent or releasableadhesive strip(s), affixed to the said supporting structure, positionedsuch that it interfaces with the all or part of the top most edge of thesaid awning, thereby securing the said awning to the said supportingstructure.
 4. The said claim 1, in which the said detachable attachmentis comprised of complementary hook and loop strips, or any othercomplementary detachably attachable system, one being affixed along thetop most edge of the said awning and the other affixed to the saidsupporting structure, positioned such that they interface and entangleat approximately all points, and thus hold the awning in place, relativeto the said supporting structure.
 5. The said claim 1, in which the saidstrip of hook or loop material or any other complementary detachablyattachable device(s) or material, which is affixed to the saidsupporting structure may be detachably detachable from the saidsupporting structure with a releasing adhesive which requires greaterforce to remove than the force required to separate the saidcomplementary strips of hook and loop material or other complementarydetachably attachable system.